The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 154

120. The Survivor

“A message from the Master.”

“As planned?”

“Of course. As planned.”

Dooshalla, clearly bothered by the southern heat, entered the barracks and immediately removed her hijab, fanning herself.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her lips twitched slightly.

“What are you staring at?”

The Tu tribe members, who had been blankly watching her arrival, quickly averted their eyes at her sharp words, which seemed to instantly quell the heat.

Seeing their reaction, Beykan chuckled.

The Tu tribe warriors, renowned as the most valiant in the Great Plains, were rendered speechless and still before her.

“Things are about to get busy again.”

Beykan and Kinu, who had journeyed south with Khalil, had been stationed in the Great Plains while Khalil battled Digon.

They were, of course, the ones who intercepted the Order of the Cross mercenaries when they attacked the oasis.

In truth, while the southern barbarians were strong, they couldn’t have easily secured a victory against the mercenaries.

That is, not without the assistance of Dooshalla, Suan, and Aidan. Khalil, anticipating a confrontation with the Order of the Cross mercenaries, had dispatched those three to the South in advance to monitor their movements.

“Will we meet again in Tatur then?”

“Probably.”

“It’ll be a while this time.”

After their brief reunion, Aidan spoke, a hint of regret in his voice at their impending separation.

“So, who did the Master choose?”

“You and Suan,” Dooshalla answered, pointing to them both.

“Good. The Master is giving me a chance this time,” Suan Hazar said, clenching his fist with excitement.

He seemed to regret missing the battle at Twin Armor and the subjugation of the Demon’s Nest.

Beykan and Kinu nodded, understanding his feelings.

“The City of the Dead is a forbidden area that even the barbarians avoid. You know that, right?”

“Of course.”

The only land where the power of Yula, the God of Light, doesn’t reach.

That’s why it’s called a cursed place, sealed off entirely by a massive barrier.

“Be careful. Even the great archmage Kaie Essir 250 years ago left that place untouched. Even if you scour the black market for information, you’ll find nothing. That’s how little is known about it.”

“That makes it all the more exciting.”

Suan Hazar replied fearlessly.

Perhaps his personality made him well-suited for the subjugation party targeting a dungeon unconquered for a millennium.

“What about us then? Did the Master give us separate instructions?”

“Of course. He’s not careless. According to the Master’s predictions, Prince Cromen’s treasure will be revealed within half a month. That’s when the rest of us move.”

“Hmm…….”

Beykan and Kinu Mukari nodded at Dooshalla’s words.

The predicted death of the Third Prince was something they already knew from Khalil, but the fact that a child, not even 10 years old, was becoming a pawn of history was unsettling, even for barbarians.

“In the end…….”

“Someone’s death is the signal…….”

Dooshalla wiped away sweat and spoke coldly at Beykan’s mutterings.

“What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you feel sorry for that kid now? Should we just kill him ourselves? You’re acting like a saint. Can we afford to show mercy to the enemy in this situation?”

“Dooshalla, that’s not what I meant,” Suan said, frowning slightly.

“Tch.”

She snorted, displeased.

Perhaps her cold demeanor was her way of showing consideration.

“It’s not about mercy, nor luxury. Just as barbarians give their all when hunting, we show no mercy to the enemy. But family is different.”

“At least we don’t kill family. There are different kinds of death. We can at least mourn a miserable end,” Beykan said calmly.

“If someone must be killed, a barbarian’s mercy is to kill them swiftly and painlessly.”

He said as he walked out of the barracks.

“Not with poison or anything like that.”

Kinu Mukari shrugged and followed behind, while Aidan began packing his belongings.

“Tch, all the men are so soft. Geez…….”

Dooshalla muttered, watching them leave.

Only Suan, also a manager, patted her shoulder, understanding her feelings.

“Oh, right, Suan.”

“Hmm?”

“The Master gave you a separate task to complete before going to the City of the Dead.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

As always, Dooshalla handed Suan a note. He eagerly took it and began to read.

“……Is this for real? If I go there, the timing won’t work. It’s like telling me not to go to the City of the Dead.”

Dooshalla looked at Suan’s disappointed face and then at the note in his hand.

“Cove?!”

Suan said uneasily, looking at the map on the note again.

“Seriously? Telling me to go to Cove now? Does that even make sense? What about the City of the Dead? How far is it from here to the Duchy?”

He shook his head.

“It’ll take at least three months, even at the fastest.”

“Even with your helmsmanship [skill in navigating]?”

“Yeah, even with my helmsmanship.”

Dooshalla said, arms crossed, facing the complaining Suan.

“Don’t make that face with your huge body. Think about it. The Master specifically chose you and Aidan.”

“Could that mean he’s waiting for me until I return, or does it mean the City of the Dead won’t be conquered until then?”

“But…….”

The note read:

“It’ll take at least three months. Will the Master wait for me that long?”

“Our plan starts after Cromen dies anyway. If Ollivern has any sense, he won’t kill him right away. He’ll be waiting for the right moment.”

Dooshalla, watching Suan groan, wore a strangely pleased expression.

She said with anticipation,

“And somehow… that’s why the Master had something to tell you through me. Now I understand what it means.”

“What?”

“It’s a message from the Master. It’s time to use it.”

Dooshalla said in a solemn voice.

“Hmm…?”

But when Suan still looked at her as if he didn’t quite understand, Dooshalla sighed softly and said,

“Don’t you know? There’s one thing only you can handle in Tatur.”

She emphasized,

“The Magic Sailboat.”

“……!!!”

At those words, Suan clenched his fist without realizing it.

“With that, can’t we cut the time in half?”

At Dooshalla’s words, Suan shook his head.

“No. It’s possible to reduce it to 1/3.”

Suan moved as if he would run right away.

“But…….”

Suan, who was excitedly heading out of the barracks, stopped while pulling back the tent flap and asked.

“Who is Supreme?”

“Well? I don’t know either.”

Dooshalla shrugged at Suan’s question.

“You’ll know when you go. The Master never makes you do things without a reason.”

* * *

“I’m going too.”

Miliana, who had been waiting for Karil to return from the Vestal Marquisate, said without preamble as soon as he came back.

“What? Where?”

Karil frowned slightly and asked back.

“Anywhere.”

Karil looked at her with a bewildered expression, taken aback by her confidence.

“Even to the City of the Dead? A place where the southern barbarians don’t even set foot in, calling it a forbidden area.”

At Karil’s words, Miliana’s eyes widened as if she was slightly embarrassed this time.

But soon, she seemed to regain her composure and said,

“I, I don’t care. That’s good. I can break down the tiresome barrier and expand the territory.”

Seeing her speak bravely, even though her voice trembled slightly, Karil chuckled.

“If you go, what about Landol?”

“Why? Are you worried that he might be eaten by the Digon tribe? He’s learned all the basics of Digon swordsmanship from me in just a few months. There are only three people in our tribe besides me who can beat Landol in swordsmanship.”

Karil nodded at Miliana’s words.

“Aren’t you curious who they are?”

She looked at Karil with a disappointed expression at his reaction.

“Yeah. I think I know roughly. I’m not particularly curious either.”

“What? That’s no fun… Don’t tell me you’ve planted spies in Digon too?”

“Even if I didn’t plant them, they’d already be there. Do you think the Five Great Families and the Four Tribes are easy people to deal with?”

“I see. It’s those Tashai guys.”

She pouted her lips slightly and said.

Tashai, one of the Five Great Families, was the most secretive tribe in the entire South.

As she expected, they were the first to react when the Lyeo Knights attacked Naraka Rock.

But even without Tashai’s report, Karil already knew who those three were.

‘The Queen’s Swords,’ strong individuals who swept away the corrupt throughout the South.

They were comparable to Sword Masters in terms of swordsmanship alone, so Karil acknowledged them.

What was unique was that they were all women.

‘I know them well. Miliana, they’re your sisters. It’s a pity they didn’t inherit the Dragon Power.’

However, there were rumors that they had inherited the dragon’s body, and their physical abilities were superior to hers, the chief.

Even Karil, who had ascended to the Sword Saint in his previous life, couldn’t help but be nervous when fighting all three of them at the same time.

“Are you really coming?”

“How many times do I have to say it? You shouldn’t even think about leaving me behind. There’s nowhere in the South that can escape my eyes.”

Miliana said, already determined, while packing her beloved swords, Ark and Gale.

“Anyway, according to you, there won’t be a direct confrontation between Digon and the Empire for the time being… The Emperor would want to wipe out the South right away, but he can’t move rashly because of the 40,000 prisoners in Twin Armor.”

Karil smiled faintly and nodded at her words, which accurately grasped the situation.

“I don’t intend to keep the prisoners for long. The food consumed is not insignificant. I’m planning to move them to Tatur first.”

“Hmm.”

“They will now do their part by being a shield until the last remaining plan is completed.”

“Then? Will you send them back to the Empire when it’s over?”

“Of course. But I can’t send them for free after feeding and housing them all this time.”

Karil said with a meaningful expression.

“Who knows? There might be some who like Tatur so much that they want to stay.”

“You… you have a scheming look on your face again.”

Now she knew that unexpected things would happen whenever he made such an expression.

“Well, okay. I was a little short-handed… I’d welcome you if you came.”

Karil nodded with satisfaction.

“When Cromen dies, Ollivern will blame it on you. This time, the Empire will have a good excuse to subjugate the South.”

“I know. I’d do the same if I were them. I can’t say that the brothers’ fight for the throne led to death. Isn’t it a great opportunity?”

“It’s going to be quite difficult even after you come back.”

“The truth will be revealed someday. That was the plan, wasn’t it? The drive hunt [a planned operation to corner and eliminate enemies] you talked about. From the beginning, it was to catch Ollivern and Tyran Shutean at the same time.”

Miliana said with expectant eyes.

“You. Can you play the villain well until the end?”

At Karil’s question, she chuckled and said,

“Villain? If you survive until the end, you’re a hero.”

She walked away slowly.

Watching her leave, Karil slowly moved his feet.

“That’s right.”